Sentencing change passed out of Senate committee

By Michelle MondoExpress-News Staff Writer
A Senate committee has once again recommended a bill that would require a life sentence with parole for 17-year-olds convicted of capital murder.

Previous attempts to get the new law passed have failed so the issue was added to the second special session.

After a vote of 4-0, the bill heads to the Senate floor. Three companion house bills with varying punishment ranges are awaiting committee votes.

Appeals and trials for 17-year-old capital murder defendants have been on hold since last year’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that barred mandatory life without parole for anyone under 18.

In Texas, adults are considered 17 and older. For capital murder defendants at that age the only sentencing option was mandatory life without parole.

Prosecutors statewide have urged the legislature to shore up this loophole by adding 17-year-olds to the same law that covers other juvenile capital murder defendants, who currently receive a mandatory life sentence with parole eligibility at 40.

Several lawmakers and advocates for juveniles have expressed concern that a mandatory 40 years is too harsh of a punishment, which was once again voiced during the Senate Criminal Justice Committee hearing Tuesday.

Advocates have also said that amount of time doesn’t fit with the spirit of the Supreme Court’s decision that juveniles must get a chance at rehabilitation and release.
–Email Mondo at mmondo@express-news.net